Shaft coupling



l Feb. 3, 1942. G, L. QLSQN 2,271,567

\ SHAFT CQUPLING Filed April 11, 41959 22 mueva/a Patented Feb. 3, 19422,271,567n "t y* UNITED STATES PATENT l ,OFFICE y i `2,271,561 l i SHAFTcoUrLING Gordon L. Olson, Arlington, Mass. Application April 11, 1939,Serial No. 267,21?`

3 claims. (ci. srt- 11) 'I'his invention'relates to shaft couplings andV more particularly to couplings adapted to be disposed between opposedYrotative' shafts or like elements in a manner so as to permit of coaxialmovement and/or a yielding torsional movement between the opposedelements. j

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide asimple and inexpensively constructed serviceable coupling that willpermit of a coaxial movement. between two opposed elemulti-facedinsertsassembled with the coupling l housing. j

' Fig. 8 is anl end View ofthe assembly shown' at ments and which willnot be subject to the-usuale ly excessive wear while vin operation, withthe.

attendent requirement for a frequent replacement of parts. I

Another object of the.invention is to provide al portion I2a that isformed with multi-sided a coupling that will permit of a combinedcoaxial A and/or yielding torsional movement and wherein the partssubject to the greatest service are arranged to give a maximum ofwearing surface and thus eliminate a requirement for excessive frequentreplacement of worn parts. l

A further .object of the invention is to provide a simple couplingcomprising fewparts vand that may be readily and conveniently assembledkwith its cooperating element ordisconnected therevfrom as occasionrequires.

Withthe above and-other objects in view, as

' will be apparent from the following description,

the invention comprises a novel combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described and specifically pointed out in theappended claims.

Inthe accompanying drawing I have shown my` device together withmodications thereof,

that illustrate the possibilities of the many modifications that may bemade therein, suiiicient to enable those skilled in the art tounderstand the construction and operation thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the couplingin an assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the coupling housing with opposedmulti-faced insertsfassembled therewith.

Fig. 3 is a' detail of one of the multi-faced inserts.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the assembly shown ln Fig. 1. .v

Fig. 5 is a View corresponding substantially to Fig. 1, but shows amodified form vo1' adapter assembled with the coupling.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding substantially to faces and may be on theorder ofl from two or more, as, for example, a hexagonal or like nut.

Secured in av resilient housing I3 are non-resilient inserts Il Athatarepreferably provided withl a scalloped or like periphery Ma'that, whenmouldedwith the housing I3, lend greater resistance to the inserts Ilrotating in the housing. It is obvious that this resistance againstrotation may be accomplished in devious ways such,ior example, asproviding the inserts with a plurality of holes into which the resilientmaterial may extend. These inserts Il are provided with a multifacedopening I5 andare adapted to engage with the like facedportion I2a ofthe adapters. It is tovbe noted that each vof the adapters I2 isprovided with an enlarged portion I2c that limits longitudinal movementof the coupling.

With this above construction,` the resilien housing I3 permits of'both atorsional and axially aligned movementv between the shafts Ill, I Iwhile the multi-faced inserts I4 and adapters' I2 provide'a greaterlocking and wearing surface relative to the torsional movement betweenthe shafts.

Further', it is obvious that the thickness of the walls of thehousingmay be varied and proportioned so as to be gauged to break downat a assembled relation.

given inch pounds or like brake torque; thus providing a safety factorrelative to over-loading of the driving and driven members.

At Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of adapter I6 that may be welded,or otherwise permanently secured to the shafts Il, I8. The outerperiphery of the adapter is formed with multi-faces as above describedalthough, in this instance, the perlpheryis provided with an annulargroove Ita adapted to receive a snap lock ring I 3 which may be of theusual and well known construction. longitudinal movement of thecoupling. It is Fig. 7 is a view showing a modiiied form of the 55obvious that' the ends ci' the shafts themselves These rings I3 functionto limit" and said couplingmembers having each a corrspondingly shapedaxially extending portion pro- `iecting, axially movable, into saidaperture, thus drivingly connecting the coupling members with theirrespective inserts. the faces forming the aperture of said annularinserts having each a convex contour relative to the axis of the bore soas to make substantially a line contact, with the axially extendingportions of said coupling the coupling housing I3 moved to the left soas f to substantially disengage it from the right hand adapter and in amanner that permits of a convenient removal of the devices with whichthe driving and driven shafts may be associated.

The inserts associated with the housing 2 I, Fig. 7, are each providedwith openings having multi-faces 29a and the faces, in this instance,are formed with a convex contour relative to the axis'of the opening.With this construction, the adapters have substantially a line contactwith the faces 20a and are thus permitted to rock axmembers, thuspermitting a tilting adjustment of the coupling members relative to'saidhousing, and means on said coupling members for limiting the axialmovement of the same relatively y to said housing.

2. In a flexible coupling for -interconnecting two substantially alinedshafts, a pair of coupling through, a rigid annular insert tlxedlymounted ially while engaged with the coupling housing inserts 20. Thus.the resilient housing 2| is only 'required to function relative to thetorsional movement of the opposed adapters I8.

Fig. 9 illustrates still another modified form of insert substantiallyas illustrated at Fig. '7, but in this instance, the inserts 22 are ofwhat may be conveniently termed a shell construction. In this instance,the inserts 22 are nonrotatably associated with the housing 23 withreinforcing bands 24 engaging with the outer face of the housing anddisposed opposite the inserts.

In themodifled form of coupling illustrated at Fig. 10, the housing 24and multi-faces 25 are of metal and formed in one part. The multifaces25 are provided with a convex contour relative to the axis of thehousing. This construction is adapted to a coupling application whereina non-yielding torsional drive is required while permittingself-aligning or axial movement of a driving and driven member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a ilexible coupling for interconnecting two substantially alinedshafts, a pair of coupling membersl adapted to be secured to the shafts,a resilient housing provided with a bore therethrough, a rigid annularinsert ilxedly mounted in each end of the bore of said housing, saidinserts having a multi-face aperture in each end of the bore of saidhousing, said inserts having a symmetric multi-face aperture and saidcoupling members having each a correspondingly shaped vaxially extendingportion projecting, axially movable, into said aperture, thus drivinglyconnecting the coupling members with their respective inserts, the facesforming the aperture of said annular inserts having each a convexcontour relative to the axis of the bore so as to make substantially aline contact with the axially extending portions of said couplingmembers, thus permittinga tilting adjustment of the coupling membersrelative to said housing, and a flange on said coupling members forlimiting the -axial movement of the same relatively to said housing.

3. In a flexible coupling for interconnecting two substantially alinedshafts, a pair of coupling members adapted to be secured to the shafts,a resilient housing provided with a bore therethrough, a rigid annularinsert ilxedly mounted in each end of the bore of Vsaid housing,

